Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What can an employee carry to best protect themself from aggressive dog attack?

Education and experience will be the best line of defense. The employee who has been in field for any amount of time has confronted thousands of dogs and now has learned to read the dogs movements and temperament. The experienced employee has learned to use what is around him to safely get out of the yard or get to the vehicle. As far as what to carry, overwhelming we are told that most employees want to carry either the Dog Stick (Wand) or the Umbrella. These both can be used to give the employee time to get out of the yard. The Dog Stick can be used to give the dog a place to bite and the employee can be pulled to safety. (Use of Dog Stick) The Umbrella is excellent if the dog has any sight sensitivity; this means the dog fears the popping action of the umbrella (Use of the Umbrella).

2. Is there anything on the market today that a company can purchase that will stop all aggressive dogs?

No! There is nothing that will stop all aggressive dogs. Even police officers are challenged to stop aggressive dogs. We have news articles in our office where the headlines reads “Officer attacked after shooting attacking dog several times” or “SWAT team takes out Pit Bull ….barely”. This means that you are better off to have something in your hand to keep between you and the attacking dog. Since most companies will limit what their employees can carry the best thing to carry is a customer friendly Dog Stick or Umbrella.

3. Does pepper spray work?

There are a couple of problems; it can’t be used when it is windy, and the employee has a greater chance that the spray will disable them. There have been several cases of a dog being sprayed, the dog then runs into house and the children pet the dog, then get the spray into their eyes. It should never be used as the employee’s first line of defense. If spray doesn’t work or the employee misses the dog, there will be nothing in the hand of the employee to stop the dog. Pepper Spray works on about 70% of the dogs out there, the other 30 percent will go through it. It is better to use this as a tool rather than your first line of defense. Put something in the employee’s hand to keep the dog away.

4.Do the ultrasonic devices work?

We have tested these devices and found them to be ineffective on most dogs. Remember, these devices will only work if the dog has a sensitively to sound and is submissive in nature. Avoid using a device that won’t be effective on all dogs. Put something in the employee’s hand that can be used on all dogs.

5. Are dogs aggressive towards the employee’s because of the uniform?

Most employees feel that dogs hate the uniform and are aggressive towards them because of it. The truth is, dogs react to the professional way the employee approaches the home. The employee shows no familiarity with the residence and people who live there. This behavior makes the dog suspicious. When a dog’s suspicion rises, so does their aggression. The employee feels the need to protect or defend himself and may spray or hurt the dog. Now, the aggressive dog’s reaction to future employees is a learned behavior. The dog has had a negative experience with someone wearing a uniform, this dog won’t forget. (Sprayed, stepped on, startled, etc)

6. Are dogs color blind?

No, dogs can see primary colors (red, yellow, & blue). Cornell University concluded that they are not color blind as once thought.

7. Which are more aggressive, female or male dogs?

Male dogs are more aggressive; the female can be extremely aggressive when protecting their young but males on a whole are more aggressive. The majority of the police/military dogs are male. The male dog produces testosterone that will make him more aggressive than the female.

8. Why are chained dog dangerous?

A chained dog is only as secure as the chain holding him. Remember that you will not know whether a chained dog is dominant or submissive. How many of you have seen dogs that you would swear if they break their chain they would attack, but instead you are surprised when the dog runs in the other direction. A chained animal must make you believe that he is a killer (you won’t know if is or isn’t). This is the submissive dog’s way of keeping you away from him. The dominant dog is showing what he really is.

9. Are all Pit Bulls and Rottweilers aggressive?

No, all of these dogs are not aggressive. There are many Pits & Rotts that are fantastic family pets and see no one as an enemy. The main reason you hear so much about the Pit Bull and Rottweiler is because of the damage they inflict when they do attack. There are good and bad in all breeds.

10. Most people had never heard of the Presa Canario (dogs who killed Diane Whipple). Were they smuggled into the country?

There are no laws preventing any breed of dog coming into this county. No permits, licenses or documents are needed other than a health certificate. We need to learn more about the dogs that are being imported and bred in this country, especially when the dog owner can be negligent and allow the dog to injure or kill someone.

11. Would a dog come through a plate glass window?

Yes, Dogs do not know a glass window is glass. When the dog hits the glass hard enough it will break. Most dogs are hurt and have even been killed. If you are approaching a house where the dog is hitting the glass, be careful! If the window is above you try to avoid walking under that window. There are employees that have been hit by falling glass.

12. How many people are attacked each year by dogs?

A survey by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta (“CDC”) concludes that dogs bite nearly 2% of the population — more than 4.7 million people annually. Almost 800,000 bites per year — one out of every 6 — are serious enough to require medical attention. Dog bites send nearly 334,000 victims to hospital emergency departments per year (914 per day). (National Center for Health Statistics National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for 1992-1994.) Bites to children represent more than 50 percent of the total number cases. Twenty-six percent of dog bites in children compared with 12 percent in adults require medical care.